Reborn To Defy The Alpha-Chapter 79: Frustrated Alpha (II)

Ares exhaled sharply through his nose. "She can train with the sub betas and sub alphas. Not with us." His eyes narrowed just slightly. "You know how I feel about people hovering when I train."

Ellie grimaced, shoulders sinking as guilt slammed into him. "Right. I forgot. But you also know not everyone here can handle her. It’s pretty much just you and me who can tolerate being in the same room with her for more than five minutes."

"Hey," Rhea cut in, "I have Tavian and Jason, remember?"

Ellie slanted her a look that practically muttered oh really. "Do you want to train with them then?"

"Hell no. They could barely lift anything heavier than their legs," Rhea replied, rolling her eyes.

"Then shut up," Ellie said, gesturing between her and Ares. "I am trying to convince a very frustrated Alpha right now."

Rhea gave him a mock go-ahead gesture with her hand, smirking. Ellie turned to Ares, opening his mouth to continue, but froze under the intensity of Ares’s glare, clapping his mouth shut.

"Why have I not killed you yet?" Ares asked, voice sharp.

Ellie peeked up with a wide grin. "Because I am your favorite beta and best friend?"

"You have got to be kidding me," Ares muttered under his breath, one palm dragging slowly down his face, wiping away the urge to strangle Ellie.

Rhea tapped her foot on the mat, bored with the testosterone drama. "So," she said, voice crisp, "am I training with you guys or what?"

Ares’s jaw tightened, his icy eyes snapping to Rhea. "You train with us?" His tone was sharp, though beneath it there was an edge of reluctant curiosity.

"Of course," she said evenly, arms crossed. "Do I look like I came here to watch you play? I’m here to train with you guys."

Ellie snorted, earning a sharp glare from Ares.

"You’re serious?" Ares asked, voice low, more of a statement than a question.

"Dead serious," Rhea replied. She took a small step forward. "Now, do I get to warm up first, or are we starting with actual training?"

Ares glanced at Ellie, raising a brow. Ellie shrugged, clearly amused. "Don’t you want to see how she knocks out one sub alpha and two sub betas?"

Ares’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine," he muttered, already moving to remove his gloves. "Ellie, you train with her."

"I want to spar with you instead," Rhea said firmly, stepping closer, eyes locked on him.

"You want to what?" Ares asked, voice sharp, disbelief clear in the tightening of his jaw.

"I want to spar with you," Rhea repeated without flinching.

Ares’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second, then narrowed. "You’re shitting me right now."

"Scared?" Rhea asked lightly, the corner of her lips twitching into a faint smirk.

Ares let out a low, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Just because you got lucky against three subs doesn’t mean you’re my match."

"Let me be the judge of that," Rhea said, stepping closer, the air around her charged with confidence.

Ares tensed, clearly sizing her up, and Ellie stepped forward, voice calm but firm. "Rhea, I think you should train with me instead."

Ellie knew the truth: no matter how strong Rhea claimed to be, she could never defeat an Alpha who had been training since he could walk. Even though he too was curious about how she was able to defeat the subs, he would not allow his curiosity to make Rhea do something she would regret later. She was no match for Ares; not even he could take him on, and he was considered the third strongest in the werewolf clans.

"You better listen to him," Ares said, his voice low, almost a warning.

Rhea’s gaze did not waver. "I hear you, Alpha," she said, tone calm but unwavering. "But I have no plans of backing down. I’ve been trying to lay my hands on you since I woke up in this body, and I won’t rest until I find out exactly how strong you are. I don’t believe you can beat me."

Since she woke up in this body? Ares thought, jaw tightening. Lay hands on him? Don’t believe he can beat her? Each statement sounded absurd, almost mocking, but there was a fire in her eyes he couldn’t ignore.

"Come on, Alpha," Rhea taunted, stepping closer, voice low and teasing. "Are you going to just stand there, or are you actually going to show me what you’ve got? Don’t tell me you’re actually scared."

Ares’s eyes narrowed, a low growl building in his throat. "You’re really sure about this?" His voice was tense, controlled, but the edge of intrigue and warning rippled through it.

Rhea tilted her head, smirked faintly. "Absolutely. And I won’t rest until I find out how strong you are. So help me find out."

Ares exhaled through his nose, tightening the straps on his gloves. "Fine," he said, voice low and deliberate. "Let’s see what’s giving you so much confidence."

Rhea’s lips curved into a sharp smile. She shifted into position, her body coiling like a spring, stance wide and balanced, feet angled in a perfect Taekwondo posture, hands held high for both offense and defense.

Ellie’s frown deepened on the sidelines. He wasn’t familiar with that stance; it was precise, disciplined, and exuded a lethal grace. He glanced at Ares and noticed the flicker of surprise in the Alpha’s eyes, though Ares masked it instantly with a sharp exhale and a controlled adjustment of his posture.

Ares’s mind raced as he watched her. What kind of stance is that? He readied himself, settling into a tight boxing style, fists up, shoulders coiled, legs slightly bent. "I’m ready when you are," he said, voice calm, but the tension in his body betrayed him.

Rhea shifted her weight slightly, toes dragging lightly against the mat. "Try to keep up," she said, a sharp edge in her voice.

Then she moved.

Her first strike was a high roundhouse kick aimed at his ribs. Ares barely shifted his torso in time, absorbing the force against his gloves. The power behind it made him flinch inwardly, and for a fraction of a second, he had to admire her precision, the way her hips twisted perfectly, the angle of the strike flawless.

"I must admit, you’ve got speed," he muttered under his breath. And technique... never seen anyone fight like that.

Rhea flowed from one kick to a spinning back kick, targeting his midsection, then a rapid series of sidekicks and low sweeps aimed to destabilize his stance. Her hands flicked in sharp jabs, one-two combinations to test his guard, each strike delivered with practiced accuracy. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Ares’s fists absorbed and deflected every hit, his defensive movements perfectly timed. He didn’t attempt offense; he focused solely on reading her attacks. His mind raced, noting angles, rhythm, and timing. He had faced trained fighters, but never anyone who moved with such disciplined fluidity, striking like a river but hitting like a hammer.

Ellie’s jaw was practically on the floor. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing; her fighting style was elegant, lethal, and insightful. Was it really the goddess herself who gifted her such a fighting style? he thought, incredulous. There’s no way she learned this on her own.

Ares, meanwhile, found himself silently admiring her adaptability. Even as he blocked and redirected her strikes, he noticed subtle shifts in her balance, the way she measured his reactions, and the tiny pauses she left, almost baiting him to react. She’s calculating... clever. Too clever.

Rhea spun, launching a rapid side kick toward his head. Ares barely leaned back, absorbing the strike’s force on his gloves, the impact reverberating through his arms. For the first time, he allowed himself the briefest flicker of respect. Damn... she’s good.

Ellie’s thoughts raced as he watched from the side, heart hammering in his chest. I’ve trained with him for years... and even I can’t predict half the things she’s doing. How is she this skilled?

Rhea shifted her footing, toes gripping the mat just enough to keep her grounded, her stomach rising and falling in perfectly steady breaths. She looked entirely in control. Entirely ready. Her voice rang out with smug challenge.

"Is that all you know how to do?" she taunted, smirk razor-sharp. "Stand there and defend like a glorified punching bag?"

Ares’s jaw clenched. The muscles in his forearms flexed as he readjusted his stance. He did not like being underestimated. Especially not by her.

Rhea rolled her wrist and beckoned him with two fingers. "Come on, Alpha. You have fists. Use them. Or are you waiting for permission?"

His eyes sharpened, irritation slipping into his voice. "You really do not know when to shut up."

"Then make me," Rhea shot back, smirk widening. She leaned forward a fraction, daring him. "Hit me. Punch. Something. Unless defense is all you can do."

"Trust me," Ares said, tone low and promising, "I can do more than defend."

"Good," she replied. "Then bring it on."

He moved.